Forensic search takes cocaine bust to 100kg

A WEEK after finding 70kg of cocaine shipped from South America in a yacht that docked at the Gold Coast, police uncovered a further 30kg hidden inside the vessel this week.

Specialist forensic equipment, including x-rays, was used for the detailed search of the yacht, Solay, and brought the haul to 100kg.

Australian Border Force chief Roman Quaedvlieg said the batch of cocaine found this week had been professionally concealed and was an example of the sophisticated methods criminal syndicates were using to conceal their drugs.

Police have alleged an Estonian skipper docked the Solay on the Gold Coast nine days after departing Vanuatu and that he and a 58-year-old UK national were busted with 40kg of cocaine when they met with three Australian men in the Dreamworld carpark.